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2K Games has secured Ben Brinkman from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at their internal studio, which is currently crafting the anticipated third-person roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.

Leadership Change Follows Lukewarm Reception

The new appointee assumes the role of studio head at the development studio following the departure of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last autumn.

On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified staff about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the necessity for a clearer game identity.

The president expressed that the developers is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news echoes a similar action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they recruited Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.

Below is the entire text from Ismailer's memo:

Dear Team—

I understand you all just finished your gathering - I trust you’re as enthusiastic as I am with the good news. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and talented creators we have had the chance to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that collaboration to endure.”

Given your hard work and flexibility, particularly over the last year, you continue to prove that.

The gamer responses from last fall’s the game testing phase was revealing. It confirmed the appeal of a roguelike shooter but made clear we still had work to do. It revealed the necessity for a clearer vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve come. You embraced the input to mind and overhauled the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s positioned to achieve its promise to our fans.

Our confidence in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To further the incredible development you’ve made, It is a pleasure to announce Ben Brinkman as the latest Studio Head of the team. Following a period of conversations, he officially joins us on Monday, October 20.

Ben’s guidance and background in the competitive gaming genre is vast, having dedicated the recent years developing and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, the battle royale hit.

Let’s together in welcoming him in the coming days. We are all eager to keep witnessing the progress of the game in the weeks to follow.

David

Experience of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently holds the position of senior developer and head of production at the renowned studio for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, prior to that, had stints at other industry leaders.

Game Information and Vision

The upcoming game was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, the developers portrayed the game as a "no-cost, third-person perspective roguelike hero shooter and an innovative evolution on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to suit your personal playstyle," the game's pitch explains. "Face the competition with new abilities, challenges, and obstacles that change every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your hard-earned loot? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your group can achieve the highest spot? The choice is in your hands."

Project Ethos does not have an official launch window or supported systems, but fans can look forward to more updates as creation continues.